Statistics in Focus: Population and social conditions. Accidents at work in the EU 1998-1999.

Abstract

In 1998, the number of accidents at work resulting in more than three days' absence from work per 100 000 persons in employment (incidence) in the EU fell slightly, by 0.4%, to 4 089 (corresponding to 4.7 million accidents in the EU as a whole). In 1999 however, according to initial estimates, the incidence seems likely to have been close to the 1996 level of 4 229 per 100 000 (4 539 in 1994). The total number of accidents, including those not resulting in absence from work or resulting in 1 to 3 days' absence, was 7.4 million in 1998 (6 380 per 100 000). As a result of these accidents, 5% of the victims had to change to a different type of work or another job, or to reduce their working hours. 0.2% had to give up work entirely. Finally, there were 5 476 fatal accidents at work in 1998 (5 per 100 000), reaching a total of 8 600 deaths by including fatal accidents on the way to and from work. On average, 59% of all these fatal accidents were road traffic accidents or involved some form of transport.